Northern Ireland: Action Mental Health

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the senior official currently on secondment as chief executive of Action Mental Health in Northern Ireland will return to a post in the Department for Employment and Learning.

Baroness Amos: The secondment is scheduled to end on 31 March 2005.

Prime Minister: Contact with Mr Rupert Murdoch

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	On what dates since 30 September 2002 the Prime Minister has met Mr Rupert Murdoch or spoken to him on the telephone respectively.

Baroness Amos: The Government's position on the disclosure of information relating to contacts with outside interest groups or individuals remains as set out in its response to the sixth report of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, which is that it should not be the normal practice to release details of meetings with private individuals or companies. Ministers and civil servants meet many people as part of the process of policy development and analysis. Some of these discussions will take place on a confidential basis.

WTO: Food Security Policy

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their policy towards food security and special agricultural products in the poorer developing countries under World Trade Organisation rules.

Baroness Amos: At the Doha ministerial meeting in 2001, it was agreed that the WTO agriculture negotiations would aim to achieve substantial improvements in market access. The UK is firmly committed to this objective and to ensuring that adequate special and differential rules are agreed, with the aim of meeting the development and food security needs of poor countries.
	The so-called "food security box" proposals made by developing countries and being discussed in the WTO's Agriculture Committee include:
	(a) provisions for developing countries to reduce tariffs by a lower percentage and throughout a longer time period;
	(b) the extension of the safeguard mechanism (which is currently available only to the developed countries) to protect developing countries during periods of import surges, which threaten domestic production and livelihoods of the poor; and
	(c) rules for developing countries to name special products, important for the food and livelihood security of the poor, which would be subject to limited tariff reduction commitments.

Afghanistan: Provincial Reconstruction Teams

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What lessons have been learned from the use of the Provincial Reconstruction Teams in north and west Afghanistan; and whether security for humanitarian work is now an urgent priority in the east and south.

Baroness Amos: To date, four international joint civil-military provincial reconstruction teams (PRTs) have been established in Mazar-e Sharif, Kunduz (both in the north), Bamiyan (in central Afghanistan), and Gardez (south east). Our experience so far from the United Kingdom's PRT, based in Mazar-e Sharif, has been very positive. It has been instrumental in facilitating the negotiation of a ceasefire between two competing warlords in Northern Afghanistan.
	Four more PRTs are planned to be operational before the end of this year in Jalalabad (south east), Kandahar (south), Herat (west) and Charikar (near Kabul). This will help to improve security for reconstruction and development work by the Afghan Administration, the UN and NGOs in the south, east and west.

Crown Prosecution Service: Staffing

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are satisfied with the present level of staffing throughout the Crown Prosecution Service; and if not, what is being done to address the issue.

Lord Goldsmith: Staffing levels have increased substantially in the last two years in order to deal with increases in workload. The manifesto commitment to increase the number of prosecutors has been met. Staffing levels will continue to be kept under close review in the light of changing workload demands.

Bagram Airbase: Detainees

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether allied forces in Afghanistan are holding prisoners in underground cellars at Bagram airbase; whether there have been any deaths in custody there; whether sensory deprivation during the flight from Bagram to Cuba has affected the mental health of the prisoners; and what representations they have made, or are making, to the United States Government.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: No British citizens are currently being held at Bagram and none of the detainees held there was captured by British forces. The British Government do not have detailed information on non-British detainees at Bagram or the conditions in which detainees are moved elsewhere. The ICRC has been able to assess conditions at Bagram since 22 January 2002 and the two widely reported deaths in custody there in December 2002 are under investigation by the US military. We are not aware of any further fatalities at Bagram. We believe that all detainees should be treated humanely and we remain in regular contact with the United States, at both ministerial and official level, about the situation of detainees.

Weapons of Mass Destruction

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What they mean by weapons of mass destruction; and which countries they consider to be in possession of such weapons.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: There is no universally-accepted definition of the term weapons of mass destruction (WMD), however it is generally taken to mean nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
	Under the terms of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Russia and China are legally entitled to possess nuclear weapons. Additionally, India and Pakistan have tested nuclear devices. We continue to urge Israel to resolve international concerns about its nuclear status by acceding to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapons state.
	There are four states parties to the Chemical Weapons Convention that have declared possession of chemical weapons. They are currently in the process of destroying them in accordance with their obligations under the convention.
	The Government have made clear in recent months that we continue to believe that Iraq had produced and had active programmes for production of WMD. We are also aware of, and very concerned by, persistent reports that Iran, The Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Libya and Syria are pursuing programmes for the development of WMD and the means for their delivery.

British Citizens in Prison in EU

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 200), whether they will give a broad breakdown by category of the offences for which 12 people were being held without bail in Belgium on 31 March; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 200), whether they will give a broad breakdown by category of the offences for which 173 people were being held without bail in Spain on 31 March; and
	Further to the Written Answer by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean on 6 June (WA 200), whether they will give a broad breakdown by category of the offences for which 56 people were being held without bail in France on 31 March.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We do not record statistics on the point raised, it would involve disproportionate cost to provide the information requested.
	However, we believe that a higher percentage of the UK prisoners referred to were detained for drug offences.

Iraq and Kuwait

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether all Kuwaiti citizens held by Iraq after the 1991 Gulf war have been located; and, if so, whether they have been returned to Kuwait alive or dead.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We regret that none of the 605 Kuwaitis missing after the Gulf War has so far been found alive. We understand 34 sets of human remains have been positively identified. The Tripartite Committee, established after the invasion of Kuwait under the auspices of the ICRC, has begun to investigate mass graves in Iraq. The coalition has so far established that there are 202 mass grave sites. The UK sent a team of forensic experts to Iraq who have made recommendations on the treatment of mass graves, including identification programmes. The Coalition Provisional Authority has set up an Office of Human Rights and Transitional Justice which will put these recommendations into effect.

Iraq and Kuwait

Lord Rea: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the current outstanding amount and status of reparations from Iraq claimed by Kuwait following the 1991 Gulf War.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: According to the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC) Kuwait has been awarded 37,113,774,922 US dollars of which 9,340,747,973 US dollars has been paid. A total of 27,773,026,949 US dollars remains outstanding on the awards. The UNCC states that a further 22,186,998,404 US dollars of claims remain to be adjudicated.

European Union: Forthcoming Council Business

Baroness Billingham: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will list the forthcoming business in the Council of the European Union from October 2003 to April 2004.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The forthcoming business in the Council of Europe is as follows:
	
		
			 Date Location Event 
			 October 2003  
			 2–3 
			 3–4 
			 7 Brussels Justice & Internal Affairs 
			 9–10 Rome Defense (Ministerial Informal) 
			 13–14 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 13–14 Brussels Transport, Telecom & Energy  Council 
			 16–17 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations Council (GAERC) 
			 20–21 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 24–25 Brussels European Council 
			 27–28 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health  and Consumer Affairs Council 
			 27 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture  Council 
			  Brussels Justice & Internal Affairs (Informal  Council) 
			  Brussels Environment Council 
			 November 2003 
			 4 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 6 Brussels EU—Russia Summit 
			 6 Brussels Justice & Internal Affairs (Informal  Council) 
			 6–7 Catania European Conference on  Employment 
			 17–18 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations Council (GAERC) 
			 17–18 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 18 Milan European Conference on  Immigration & Labour Market 
			 24–25 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 24–25 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture  Council 
			 27–28 Brussels Justice & Internal Affairs (Informal  Council) 
			 28 Brussels EU & Western Balkans JHA  Ministers Meeting 
			 December 2003 
			 1–2 Rome Euromed Meeting 
			 1–2 Brussels Employment, Social Policy Health  and Consumer Affairs Council 
			 1–3 Rome Informal Public Administration  Ministerial 
			 4–5 Brussels Transport, Telecom & Energy  Council 
			 5–7 Rome Closing Conference for the  European Year of the Disabled 
			 8–9 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations Council (GAERC) 
			 9 Brussels EU and Western Balkans Foreign  Ministers meeting 
			 12–13 Brussels European Council 
			 15–17 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 16 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 22 Brussels Environment Council 
			 January 2004  
			 8 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 16–17 Brussels Employment & Social Policy  (Ministerial Informal) 
			 16–17 Ireland (venue tbc) Informal Employment and Social  Policy 
			 19 Brussels Eurogroup 
			 20 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 22–23 Ireland (venue tbc) Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 26–27 Brussels General Affairs and External  Relations Council (GAERC) 
			 February 2004 
			 10 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 19 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 23–24 Brussels General Affairs & External  Relations (GAERC) 
			 23–24 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 26 Brussels Education, Youth & Culture  Council 
			 March 2004 
			 2 Brussels Environment Council 
			 4–5 Brussels Employment, Social Policy, Health  & Consumer Affairs (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 8–9 Brussels Transport, Telecom & Energy  Council 
			 9 Brussels ECOFIN 
			 11 Brussels Competitiveness Council 
			 22–23 Brussels General Affairs & External  Relations (GAERC) 
			 22–23 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 25–26 Brussels European Council 
			 31 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial  Informal) 
			 April 2004 
			 16–17 Brussels GYMNICH 
			 23–24 Brussels Economic & Financial Affairs  (Informal) 
			 26–27 Brussels General Affairs & External  Relations (GAERC) 
			 26–27 Brussels Agriculture & Fisheries Council 
			 29–30 Brussels Justice & Home Affairs (Ministerial  Informal)

Intergovernmental Conference

Lord Faulkner of Worcester: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the purpose of the Intergovernmental Conference, the opening session of which took place in Rome on 4 October.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: On 4 October my right honourable friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary attended the opening session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) in Rome. The conference has been convened to enable member states to make decisions on a future Constitutional Treaty in order to ensure that an expanded European Union is both more effective and more accountable. Its starting point is the draft treaty produced by the Convention on the Future of Europe, placed before the House this August as Command Paper 5897.
	On 9 September we issued a White Paper (Cm 5934) setting out the Government's approach towards the IGC. As we said in that White Paper, the draft treaty is a good basis for starting the IGC negotiations. It consolidates existing treaties into a clearer and more comprehensible text, but one which does not alter the fundamental constitutional relationship between the member states and the Union. It provides for the more efficient decision making processes which will be needed in an enlarged Union of 25 members. For example, it proposes a new position of full-time Chair of the European Council, which will make the Union more efficient, by ending the frequent changes of direction and priority inherent in the rotating presidency system. It also reinforces the role of national Parliaments in the European Union, and the application of the principle of subsidiarity.
	We do not regard the draft treaty as perfect: as for many other member states, there are some points in the text which we want to change and others which we need to examine in more detail. Final decisions at the IGC are by unanimity and, as our White Paper stated, we will only accept a final text which makes it clear that issues like tax, defence and foreign policy remain the province of the nation state.
	This first detailed session of the IGC, attended by Foreign Ministers, agreed that, when the Council of Ministers is legislating, its proceedings should be as open as possible. It also agreed that the provision in the draft treaty for establishing a legislative council, which we opposed, would be dropped.
	The European Council of 16 and 17 October will continue discussion of the draft Treaty. In the mean time, Foreign Ministers met in the context of the General Affairs and External Relations Council, on 13 October. We hope for agreement on a final text in sufficient time to allow for signature of a treaty, as provided in the conclusions of the Thessaloniki Council, as soon as possible after 1 May 2004. In the interim we will of course continue to keep the House informed of progress, including through ministerial appearances at the IGC Standing Committee.

Iraq: UN Arms Embargo

Baroness Whitaker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have recently made any exemptions to the United Nations arms embargo on Iraq.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Following consultation with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence, the Department of Trade and Industry recently approved a further licence to export military list goods to Iraq. The arms embargo against Iraq remains in place under United Nations Security Council resolution 1483 (2003), with the exception of "arms and other related material required by the (Coalition Provisional) Authority to serve the purposes of this and other related resolutions". Accordingly, Her Majesty's Government consider it appropriate to grant exemptions for the export of submachine guns and pistols which are to be used by private security firms contracted to provide close protection for employees of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) in Iraq. The export is consistent with the consolidated EU and national arms export licensing criteria. Future applications will continue to be assessed on a case by case basis against the UN embargo and consolidated criteria, taking into account the circumstances prevailing at the time.

Works of Art Loaned to British Council: Indemnity Arrangements

Lord Christopher: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many indemnity undertakings were given in respect of loss or damage to works of art loaned to the British Council for exhibition overseas for the six-month period to 30 March; and whether the arrangements for government art indemnities for such exhibitions are being revised.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The British Council, although not a government department, receives a substantial grant-in-aid from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The council regularly organises or sponsors exhibitions overseas of works of art loaned from national galleries and private collections in the United Kingdom. It provides certain assurances or guarantees in respect of loss or damage while these works are on loan.
	In the six-month period ended 30 March 2003 the British Council provided such assurances to four national lenders and undertakings to 171 private lenders. The value of the contingent liabilities that remained outstanding as at 30 March 2003 in respect of national lenders was £300,000 and £3,703,862 in respect of private lenders.
	Following a recent review, HM Treasury, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the British Council have agreed to a revision of the government art indemnities arrangements for artworks loaned to British Council exhibitions overseas. The revised scheme, which comes into effect on 1 April 2004, has three main features. The maximum total liability available to the Council at any one time will be £50 million (compared with the current £70 million). The £50 million limit does not include "high value" exhibitions (i.e. single exhibitions valued at £30 million or over), which are treated separately. In the case of "high value" exhibitions the council will submit proposals to the UK's Public Diplomacy Strategy Board and HM Treasury for approval at least two years in advance. For all exhibitions the council will have to show evidence of having approached the government of the host country for cover and of having sought sponsorship for commercial insurance.

Firearms

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many lethal or potentially lethal firearms have been recovered by United Kingdom Police Services in the current year and in each of the previous four years:
	(a) by means of arms amnesties; and
	(b) in the course of police operations; and whether all such weapons have been destroyed.

Baroness Scotland of Asthal: The national firearms amnesty in April saw the hand-in of 43,908 guns (including 9,480 imitations and 13,974 air weapons), and 1,039,358 rounds of ammunition. Police forces were instructed to destroy all items, unless they were of national forensic or museum interest. Information on firearms recovered by the police during normal operations is not recorded centrally.

Affordable Housing

Lord Burlison: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they are taking to provide for investment in affordable housing.

Lord Rooker: I am pleased to be announcing today the allocation of nearly £5 billion over the next two years to drive forward the Government's commitment to affordable housing. This includes the balance of the £1 billion for key worker housing promised in the Communities Plan and funding to help ensure that all people living in social housing have a decent home by 2010.
	Key worker housing programme
	Using housing initiatives to support recruitment and retention in key public services is a government priority. Over the summer the Government have worked to develop a successor programme to the Starter Homes Initiative. This will target resources on the key workers who can make the biggest possible contribution to improving frontline public services.
	The proposals I am announcing today represent the main features of the key worker housing programme to be run in 2004–05 and 2005–06.
	The majority of support will continue to be directed towards our priority categories such as teachers and health workers. However, we also propose that the programme should be widened to apply to other public sector workers, such as social workers, where there is clear evidence of recruitment and retention problems. This is in response to the needs identified by the regional housing boards in their housing strategies.
	Support will be provided to key workers through one of four simple options. Emphasis will be more on family homes rather than on starter homes as the evidence base compiled in recent months suggest that this is what the workers who are critical to service delivery need and want.
	The options are: Homebuy, "Homebuy plus", shared ownership or intermediate renting. Homebuy will provide key workers with an interest-free equity loan equal to 25 per cent or more of the value of the property on the basis that the key worker pays back the same proportion of value of the property when he or she sells it. Homebuy plus will offer assistance on the same basis but with larger equity loans for a very small number of critically important key workers—for example, teachers who will become middle managers in key London schools. Shared ownership will allow a key worker to buy part of a property—at least 25 per cent—and pay rent on the remainder. Key workers will be able to increase their stake in the property when they can afford to do so. Intermediate renting offers the chance to rent a property at a rate between social rents and open market values.
	The Starter Homes Initiative has concentrated on helping key workers buy homes on the open market. The new scheme will shift the balance progressively towards new build schemes.
	Through this programme we will ensure that support for key workers is better targeted and better tailored to meet both the recruitment and retention needs of our frontline public services and the needs of the employees crucial to delivering those services.
	Local Authority Social Housing Grant
	I am pleased to announce increased funding for transitional arrangements following the abolition of local authority social housing grant. An additional £75 million has been made available for debt-free authorities.
	Local authorities social housing grant (LASHG) was abolished from 1 April 2003. It was a mechanism which local authorities used to fund new or improved social housing through registered social landlords (RSLs). The authority made a loan from its own capital resources to the RSL. The loan was then repaid to the authority by the Housing Corporation. With-debt authorities were then required to set-aside the reimbursement to meet debt and credit liabilities. Debt-free authorities, on the other hand, were allowed to use the reimbursement for any purpose they wished—not necessarily housing. This meant debt-free authorities effectively obtained additional affordable housing at no cost to themselves.
	As anticipated, the transitional funding was oversubscribed. Many of the bids submitted did not meet the bidding criteria. The Housing Corporation prioritised the bids in consultation with the government offices and I am today announcing approval for transitional local authority social housing grant schemes (LASHG). The transitional arrangements will lead to £680 million spend on schemes and will provide 14,000 homes over the next three years.
	The Housing Corporation will be notifying local authorities of the outcome of the bids.
	I should like to emphasise that local authorities remain able to support new social and key worker housing by housing associations. They will, however, no longer be reimbursed by the Housing Corporation—and, in particular, debt-free authorities will no longer be able to spend the money twice. I would encourage local authorities to continue to support the acquisition of new affordable housing wherever this is the best way to achieve the objectives set out in their housing strategies.
	Regional Housing Boards
	The Communities Plan set out a range of measures to deliver a step change in tackling the serious imbalances between the supply of and demand for housing in many parts of England. A key element of this was to ensure better integration between investment in housing, the planning system and economic development strategies.
	In order to help to achieve this, the framework for determining the allocation of funds for housing investment is being substantially changed to focus resources on strategic housing priorities. Regional housing boards have been established to make recommendations to me on how the funds available to each region should be distributed between local authorities and housing associations and where they should be targeted. These recommendations reflect priorities set out in their regional housing strategies, which build on the existing housing statements.
	I have given careful consideration to their funding recommendations, regional housing strategies and other supporting information and I can now announce my conclusions.
	The task the boards faced—balancing the competing demands within the region while at the same time supporting delivery of a small number of key national priorities and targets—was a difficult one.
	I am pleased to say that I am accepting the broad thrust of the boards' recommendations for 2004–05 and 2005–06 and their regional spending priorities. In most regions the recommendations will be accepted in their entirety. There have been further discussions with the boards for the London, East and South-East regions. These have taken into account the increased resources now available for transitional local authority social housing grant and the additional homes we expect English Partnerships to provide via innovative new schemes, neither of which the regional boards were aware of at the time they made their recommendations. As a result the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has been able to increase the funding made available for key worker housing.
	A table giving details of each region's allocation will be placed in the Library. Details of the housing allocations for individual local authorities will be announced in four to six weeks' time.
	A competitive bidding round for the funds available for new affordable housing schemes is being launched by the Housing Corporation; the results will be announced by March.
	I have been impressed by what the boards, local authorities and other stakeholders have achieved in a short space of time. There is clearly a real appetite for a strengthened regional role on housing and for finding new ways of working to improve effectiveness of delivery.
	It is important to build on this—both to increase and strengthen partnership working and innovation and to develop regional and, where appropriate sub-regional, housing strategies. Sub-regional housing strategies require a stronger analysis of current and future housing needs. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister always recognised that the short time available would limit the analysis this year.
	Central government will play its part. Work is already under way to evaluate the first round of the new arrangements and will include feedback from the regional housing boards. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister will consider carefully what changes are needed.hp (21-23)

Afghanistan: UK Activity and ISAF

The Earl of Sandwich: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What contribution they will make to a further expansion of the International Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan to provinces outside the capital.

Lord Bach: The United Kingdom is already active in the Afghan regions through our Provincial Reconstruction Team in Mazar-e Sharif. We have made no decisions on the nature of our future contribution to the International Security and Assistance Force (ISAF), though the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as a whole continues to explore the potential for ISAF expansion further to the United Nations' Security Council Resolution 1510 passed on 13 October 2003.

Driving at Work

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their estimate of the proportion of road vehicle drivers who are "at work" as defined by the Health and Safety Executive document of September Driving at Work.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The Government have no statistics on which to base an estimate of the proportion of drivers who are "at work".
	The estimate referred to in Driving at work: Managing work-related safety, that up to a third of all UK road traffic incidents may involve someone who is at work, comes from the conclusions of the Work-related Road Safety Task Group. The task group's report, which was published in November 2001, may be viewed at: www.hse.gov.uk/roadsafety/traffic1.pdf.

Driving at Work

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What action they have taken to ensure compliance with the Health and Safety Executive document of September Driving at Work.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The publication Driving at work: Managing work-related road safety, jointly published by the Health and Safety Executive and the Department for Transport, is a guidance document that has no legal status and does not require compliance. The guidance is designed to raise awareness about employers' responsibilities for work related driving activity, where relevant, under existing health and safety law. It contains advice on how these responsibilities can be carried out, to assist employers meet their obligations.

Jobseekers Act 1995: Actively Seeking Work Obligation

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the obligation under the Jobseekers Act 1995 on claimants to prove that they are actively seeking work carries a corresponding obligation on employers to acknowledge receipt of applications and their rejection where appropriate; and, if not, whether they take the view that there should be such obligation on employers.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: As jobseekers are not required under the Jobseekers Act 1995 to provide written evidence that they are taking reasonable steps to obtain employment it is not necessary to place an obligation to provide written evidence on employers.
	When a jobseeker makes a claim for jobseeker's allowance they agree the steps they will take to actively seek work. This is recorded on their jobseeker's agreement and reviewed on a regular basis. Jobseekers are advised to keep any evidence of applications and the steps they have taken, not only for their own records, but to enable further advice and assistance to be provided.
	If any doubt arises about the action that a jobseeker is taking, they will be asked to provide additional evidence. If it appears that they are no longer actively seeking employment, a statement will be taken from them. The statement will include details of the steps they have taken, why they think these were the best steps to take, details of anything that restricted their jobseeking activities and an explanation of why the steps agreed on their jobseeker's agreement have not been followed. The personal adviser will also provide a statement explaining why they consider the steps taken to be inadequate.
	These statements, together with the jobseeker's agreement and any other evidence supplied by the jobseeker, are then passed to an independent decision-maker. They will look at the evidence and make a decision regarding entitlement to jobseeker's allowance. If benefit is disallowed the jobseeker will be advised of their right to appeal.

New Deal for Lone Parents

Lord Roberts of Conwy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the total cost of the Government's New Deal for Lone Parents in 2002–03; and how much of the total was received directly by the participants.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The forecast outturn for total expenditure on New Deal for Lone Parents in 2002–03 is £79.08 million. Of this, £15 million was incurred making training allowance payments to lone parents and meeting the additional costs incurred by lone parents through their participation in the programme such as, for example childcare and travel refunds. Elements of this £15 million are paid to third parties and details of the amount paid direct to lone parents could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

National Insurance Numbers

Lord Northbrook: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many national insurance numbers are in issue; and what steps are being made to limit their allocation to those who are entitled to them.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: The total stock of national insurance numbers (NINOs) is 71.5 million. The vast majority of NINOs are issued to UK born residents at the age of 15 years and 9 months. The enhanced NINO process (ENP) which almost exclusively affects people entering the UK from abroad, was introduced in April 2001 to ensure a thorough and consistent approach to NINO allocation for benefit applications and for those starting work or in employment. This robust process includes face-to-face interviews for all clients, the provision of document examination tools and comprehensive guidance for interviewing staff. Only when this process is satisfactorily completed will a NINO be allocated.

Paralympic Games 2004: Women's Wheelchair Basketball

Lord Moynihan: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether qualification for the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens will lead to the selection of a Great Britain's women's wheelchair basketball team.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: A team to represent Great Britain will be selected provided that a sufficient number of women meet the selection criteria agreed between the British Paralympic Association and the governing body, the GB Wheelchair Basketball Association.

UK and EU Parliaments: Costs

Lord Marlesford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will give their latest estimate of the total annual cost to public funds of the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the European Parliament, expressed in pounds sterling per Member.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Precise comparisons between the cost of the European Parliament and the United Kingdom Parliament are difficult. The latest information is as follows. The figures for the House of Commons and the House of Lords have been provided by these bodies, which are independent of government.
	The per capita figures in respect of the House of Commons given in my reply of 19 June (WA 146) have been slightly amended for 1999–2000 to 2001–02 in the light of more up-to-date information provided by the House of Commons concerning their total costs. A revised table is set out below.
	The second table sets out the latest costs to UK public funds together with the per capita cost of each of the bodies concerned.
	
		Total Cash Costs (£ million)
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 European Parliament(1) 712.0 610.0 597.0 614.2 568.7 663.2 
			 of which UK cost is 98.9 102.7 90.1 61.0 80.4 91.5 
			 House of Commons 259.7 256.3 253.9 249.1 268.4 280.3 
			 House of Lords 43.3 45.3 45.7 57.4 57.6 66.5 
		
	
	
		Per Capita Cash Cost per member to UK public funds (£000)
		
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 
			 European Parliament(4) 1,137 974 954 981 908 1,059 
			 of which UK cost is 158 164 144 97 128 146 
			 House of Commons(3) 394 389 385 378 407 425 
			 House of Lords(2) 38 37 67 81 83 96 
		
	
	Notes
	Based on calendar years and average £/ecu or Euro exchange rate for the relevant year. The cost to the UK is derived from the UK's financing share after abatement.
	Per capita cost based on the number of Peers eligible to sit in the House of Lords at the beginning of each year. The number of Peers has reduced significantly since the House of Lords Act 1999 when 655 hereditary Peers ceased to be Members from November 1999.
	Per capita cost based on an assumption of 659 Members.
	Per capita cost based on an assumption of 626 seats in the European Parliament.
	The 2003-03 figures are based on provisional outturns.
	The 2003-04 figures are based on provisional estimates.

Death Certificates

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will link death certificates with birth records wherever possible and require death certificates to note the deceased's national insurance number so as to help prevent identity theft.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the Registrar General who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from the Registrar General, Len Cook, to Lord Laird, dated 21 October 2003.
	As Registrar General for England and Wales, I have been asked to reply to your recent question on linking death certificates with birth records and the possible inclusion of national insurance numbers on death certificates. (HL4819)
	The proposals to modernise civil registration include the linkage of a person's marriage and death record to their birth record, thus creating a through life record. Changes to legislation are necessary and are being taken forward using the provisions in the Regulatory Reform Act.
	The Department for Work and Pension is notified each week of all deaths registered in England and Wales. There are no plans to include the national insurance number in the information collected at death registration.

Culture Online

Lord Gordon of Strathblane: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When Culture Online will commission its first projects.

Lord McIntosh of Haringey: Culture Online is a new project, led by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which aims to use new technology to increase access to and participation in the arts and culture. Digital technologies B including, but not limited to, the Internet, give us the opportunity to present cultural resources and activities in different formats and allow people to use and add to them in new and exciting ways. Projects involving interactive games, audio and video footage, and digital cameras and editing software and tools can improve the quality of education and bring in new users.
	Culture Online is commissioning digital educational materials from cultural and new media organisations. We are about to commission the first seven projects (details of which will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses). They involve a range of organisations including local and regional museums and theatres, the V&A, Kew Gardens and the National Theatre. Just over a half of all projects will be aimed at school age children. The rest will be aimed at adult learners, particularly those who may not traditionally have been involved in the arts and culture. The first projects will start in November and will be accessible by the public next year. Projects will be available through participating organisations' websites, the Culture Online website (www.cultureonline.gov.uk) and the DfES Curriculum Online portal.

Countryside Agency: Access Rights and Maps

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Countryside Agency has been required to maintain records of objections to access rights and to definitive maps used in determining those access rights; and, if so, when they will report on any anomalies in the definitive maps which, taken together, may require a change in the legislation to allow corrections to be made.

Lord Whitty: The Countryside Agency is required under the Access to the Countryside (Provisional and Conclusive Maps) (England) Regulations 2002 to keep a record of the names and addresses of any person who has made representations to them about the draft maps of open country and registered common land issued by the agency under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. Following the issue of a provisional map, the agency will publish on its website a consultation report which will detail the general issues highlighted during the public consultation exercise. The report will also include information on the amount of land which has either been added or removed from the draft map as a result of the representations received.
	The agency does have some limited powers to correct any errors to the provisional and conclusive maps of open country and registered common land under the Access to the Countryside (Correction of Provisional and Conclusive Maps) (England) Regulations 2003. In addition a review of a conclusive map will be carried out within 10 years of the map being issued.Rebo

Bovine TB Testing

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Whitty on 3 June (WA 151), whether the 4,500 overdue herd tests have been carried out; and what is the current backlog on tuberculosis testing (excluding any carry forward from those 4,500)

Lord Whitty: Data extracted from the State Veterinary Service (SVS) database show that, on 31 August 2003, the overall number of overdue tests stood at 3,134, down almost 200 tests from 31 July 2003. The current number of overdue TB tests is below the level prior the onset of the foot and mouth disease outbreak of 2001.
	Almost 30 per cent. of these 3,134 tests have been overdue less than one month. the nature of TB testing is such that most TB tests are completed on or shortly after their due date. Delays in the submission of test results from veterinary practices can result in those tests appearing as outstanding on the date that the statistics were compiled, even if the herds in question had already been tested.
	Another 12 per cent. of these tests have been overdue by six months or more. All those herds have been under movement restrictions at least since last April. Despite the gradual reduction in the number of overdue TB tests there is no room for complacency. With effect from 1 October, and on the first working day of each month thereafter, the SVS is placing under restriction any herds in which a TB test becomes overdue by more than three months.

Traffic Regulation Orders

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the answer by the Lord Whitty on 14 October (HL Deb, col. 764) on a traffic regulation order, for how long can an "extended period" run.

Lord Whitty: A traffic regulation order made under Section 22B of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, as introduced by the Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003, can apply for as long a period as the Secretary of State decides to specify in the order.

Motorists: VED Evasion and Non-insurance

Lord Bradshaw: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they propose to bring forward measures to deal with the problems of evasion of Vehicle Excise Duty and the non-insurance of motor vehicles.

Lord Davies of Oldham: 1. VED Evasion: Draft regulations introducing a regime of "continuous registration" under powers taken under the Finance Act 2002 Budget were laid before Parliament on 15 October. Subject to the approval of Parliament, they come into force on 30 November 2003.
	The effect of the regulations is that in the event of a vehicle keeper failing to relicence their vehicle by the due date they will be liable to an £80 fixed penalty reducing to £40 if paid within 28 days.
	The fundamental change from the present position is that action may now be taken in respect of unlicensed vehicles on the face of the vehicle registration records held by the DVLA. Thus it will no longer be necessary as at present, for the vehicle to be seen on the road in order for action to be taken. Stronger penalties may result where the vehicle continues to be unlicensed.
	These measures should ensure that there is a greater incentive for motorists to renew their tax discs by the due date and to inform DVLA when a vehicle changes hands. There will be a major publicity campaign to explain these measures to motorists starting in January 2004.
	2. Insurance: The Government announced, on 21 August, the appointment of Professor David Greenaway to carry out an independent review of the UK motor insurance system. The review is expected to report next April and has a particular focus on changes that might help reduce levels of uninsured driving.

Network Rail

Earl Attlee: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether Network Rail has sufficient engineering and technical capacity to meet its obligations in respect of railway equipment approvals.

Lord Davies of Oldham: Network Rail advises that all safety and business critical railway equipment is subject to a stringent product acceptance process which forms part of its railway safety case. Processing products through this acceptance procedure is prioritised by Network Rail's business need.